You’ll find a number of diverse articles, thoughts and ideas here are covering a wide range of topic. Most of the content will be about beneficial insects (good bugs), their food (bad bugs), birds, bats, bees, gardens (home & farms) and other related subjects but we’ll also throw in some stuff, just to keeps it interesting. We hope you’ll enjoy the content as it grows and find it helpful, useful and entertaining.
You’ll find a number of diverse articles, thoughts and ideas here are covering a wide range of topic. Most of the content will be about beneficial insects (good bugs), their food (bad bugs), birds, bats, bees, gardens (home & farms) and other related subjects but we’ll also throw in some stuff, just to keeps it interesting. We hope you’ll enjoy the content as it grows and find it helpful, useful and entertaining.
Mealybugs are a common pest infestation in conservatories, posing a significant threat to the health and aesthetics of plants. Chemical control methods have been traditionally used to combat this menace, but the adverse effects on the environment and the public in these spaces have made beneficial sustainable alternatives essential. This article reviews the prevalence and […]
Read More The primary goal of this working group is to disseminate essential information and effective strategies for the management of pests commonly encountered in interiorscapes and conservatories. These distinctive environments often host unique pest species and are frequently located in public spaces where the application of pesticides is prohibited. The information shared within this group will […]
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Beneficial Nematodes for the Commercial Grower Entomopathogenic nematodes are microscopic, naturally occurring worms that can be used for effective and environmentally friendly pest control. These nematodes are beneficial to plants and gardens because they hunt down and kill insect pests that can harm crops. When introduced to the soil, entomopathogenic nematodes actively seek out insects […]
Read MoreGreetings, plant lovers! We have a thrilling tale to share about some extraordinary warriors who go by the name Stethorus punctiluum, the secret agents combating spider mites in our beloved plants
Read MoreMeet the Snow Flea the tiniest little critter you never even knew was there….
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Christmas beetle is a name commonly applied to the Australian beetle genus Anoplognathus. They are known as Christmas beetles because they are abundant in both urban and rural areas close to Christmas. Christmas beetles are large (20–30 mm long) members of the scarab family that are noisy and clumsy fliers. They typically have elytra that […]
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As soon as the weather starts to cool and our plants head indoors for the year, we are overrun with fungus gnats. Fungus gnats are those aggravating tiny flies similar to mosquitoes in appearance that hang around your houseplant’s soil or near lights. These flies are small between 1/16th to 1/8th of an inch long. […]
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It is that time of year when we start to hundreds of these insects. It is the less than loved Boxelder bug, Boisea trviittatus. These insects are most active in the fall as they start to find overwintering sites. We see them on sunny sides of trees or buildings and even coming into your homes. A […]
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The Damsel Bug is probably one of the most common predators, and therefore beneficial insects, we find in all crops. It can be abundant in fields and is a generalist predator that will eat whatever it can find and subdue “Both adults and nymphs are fast, aggressive predators. They grasp their prey and pierce the […]
Read MoreToday we are talking about the Leafcutting Bee, scientifically known as Megachile Latreille. Their nickname explains exactly what they do: they cut leaves! The female leafcutting bee is responsible for building a “nursery” for her little larvae. She finds a suitable space in preexisting tubular cavities (basically: holes). These cavities could be in hollow stems, […]
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I hear from clients daily, “these pesticides are just not working like they used too”. It is true, pesticides are not working as well any more. Even when the pesticides were working well, not all the pests were killed even with good coverage and there were dead bugs on the leaves. The surviving pests continued […]
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NIC’s fly parasites are unique because they are suited to our northern environment and the control of flies on farms or wherever flies are an issue. Flies have developed a resistance to traditional fly controls such as pesticides. There is no known resistance to the use of fly parasites. Fly parasites are safe, non-toxic, effective […]
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It doesn’t matter if it is smoked, vaped or used in an edible form, every effort should be made to grow the crop without the use of chemical insecticides, fungicides or herbicides. When plants are grown in protected environments, they can be grown all year round, at a faster rate and with less physical damage. […]
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1. LADYBUGS ARE NAMED AFTER THE VIRGIN MARY. There are both male and female ladybugs, so why do we call them “ladies”? According to Oxford Dictionaries, they’re named after one particular lady: the Virgin Mary. One of the most common European ladybugs is the seven-spot ladybug, and its seven marks reminded people of the Virgin […]
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To start with … what are nematodes? Nematodes are very tiny, microscopic ‘worms’ that mostly live in the soil. Beneficial nematodes can range from 1/25 inch to several inches long and have slender, translucent, unsegmented bodies. Many are soil dwellers that break down organic matter, especially in compost piles. You can easily spot these 1/4-inch-long […]
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We’re are closed for holiday festivities (December 23 to January 1) – our team is off perfecting their snowman-building skills, mastering the art of gift wrapping, and possibly engaging in intense debates over the best holiday movie.
Our last online orders for the year need to be placed by December 17 (shipping the week of December 18). Our next order will ship the week of January 1 (shipping January 3). During our holiday closure, we will be monitoring orders and emails but response times may be longer than expected.
We’ll be back on January 2 with renewed energy and holiday spirit! In the meantime, may your days be merry and your cocoa be extra chocolaty. See you in 2024!